Personal Branding Through Appearance

I caught up with Darcey Howard, foundress and Chief Style Officer of LifeStyled, to bring you this informative Q&A session on personal branding through appearance.

The theme of Lifestyled is “Personal Branding Through Appearance™.” Just how much does one’s appearance impact others?
Darcey Howard: Let me put it this way; if you are your brand, then your wardrobe is your logo. You may think of Nike as a tennis shoe company but when I say “swoosh” to you, what do you think of? A company that produces products that make “Just do it!” a reality for millions.

You wouldn’t apply the attitude of “This will do” to how you work, your relationships, or your life, so why walk out of the house each day saying “This will do” about what your are wearing? That attitude is what people will see and connect with. Be more intentional with what makes you amazing and dress so not only will others identify with what’s amazing about you but so that you will feel what’s amazing about you.

What do you mean by, “Are you wearing your clothes? Or are they wearing you?”
DH: Without clarity of what your personal brand is, and how you want it to be presented visually, it’s impossible to be strategic when you shop or get dressed. This results in purchasing and wearing clothes that don’t really fit, feel right, or go together. It looks like your outfit just happened to you instead of it being an intentional representation of how you want your clothes to support your lifestyle and personality.

Does being “lifestyled” mean I have to invest in expensive couture clothing and accessories?
DH: Absolutely not! Anything but that, actually. I won’t even take a client shopping until we’ve worked with their existing wardrobe to make better use of what they already own. Most people have a closet full of clothes that were purchased without a plan. Instead of seeing a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, I see a closet full of opportunity just waiting to be unleashed. Most people are drawn to the purchases they make for a reason, but they get home with out a plan. Then their clothing just sits there, or gets worn with the same thing over and over. We give people the tools, framework and parameters to make better decisions and feel more “put-together” quickly.